In the first few centuries of the Church, being a Christian could be very dangerous, especially during periods of organized persecution. Thousands were either murdered or executed, just for being a Christian, including all but one of the Lord's Apostles. If a Christian came to a new town and sought for other Christians, he would go to a public place and draw an arc in the dirt, similar to the base of a rocking chair. This mark meant nothing to the enemies of Christ, but to another Christian it was a code of recognition. The other Christian would then draw a reverse arc above the other completing the sign of the Fish. They would then recognize each other as Brothers in Christ.

While it is not a crime to be a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, at least not yet, we are still being persecuted by the media, politicians and other groups and persons. They defile our heritage, dishonor our brave Confederate forefathers, and disgrace the just cause for which they fought. Even the states that asked them to serve in their defense, often refuse to remember their sacrifice. And of course, we are thought of as a bunch of ignorant malcontents still fighting the "Civil War." The Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 16:9, "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."

We too have "many adversaries." However, just as that small group of despised and persecuted early Christians, within less than three hundred years, captured the entire Roman world for Christ, the Sons of Confederate Veterans also has a great and effectual door of opportunity open to us. The key to open this door begins with faith and trust in God, and recognizing each other as SCV Brothers. The Scriptures tell us the church, from the very beginning, "were all with one accord." (Acts 2:1) If we, as the descendants of those who so faithfully served the Confederacy can do the same, then our Cause is not "lost." It as just begun.

A great and effectual door is now open to the Sons of Confederate Veterans. So, let us as one body raise high the banner of truth and boldly face those who oppose us. Let us serve with confidence and conviction the just Cause for which we stand. Let us with one voice say, "I am a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the proud descendant of a brave and honorable Confederate soldier." Let us together faithfully follow the guidance of the Lord our God in the spirit of our noble Confederate forefathers. Let us say with the Apostle Paul, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Acts 27:25

It is my prayer that we, as members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, faithfully and in one accord serve God and our Southern Cause. I pray that we, with confidence, strength and unity of purpose, walk humbly before Him, and proudly before our adversaries. Amen

By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer - Wed Sep 22, 5:54 pm ET
BATON ROUGE, La. - While Texans are fiercely proud their state was once its own republic, and California celebrates the same former status on its flag, relatively few Louisianans know that a group of their forebears overthrew Spanish rule to carve out a tiny, independent nation 200 years ago. With the bicentennial coming up Thursday, historians and descendants of the rebels are hoping to change that.
"It is the most dramatic event in Louisiana history that has been so little recognized," said Sam Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. "We have been lost to all the Cajuns and the debauchery of New Orleans, but it is a unique event that had a lasting effect on this area and others."
In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a "sharp and bloody firefight," subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag - a single white star on a blue field - that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida.
Three days later the rebels signed a declaration of independence and set up a government for the new nation that historians say included about 4,000 people.
The republic was one of three nations that joined with the United States as it expanded west during the 19th century. The others were the republics of Texas and California.
West Florida achieved its goal - annexation by the United States - 74 days after independence, said archivist Betty Tucker of Zachary, La.
Historians generally agree the republic included 8 Louisiana parishes still known as the Florida Parishes, and those completed what became the state of Louisiana in 1812.
"They were English speaking people, several were Tories, and they were sick of Spain," Tucker said of the rebels. "You had to be Catholic (under the Spanish), they had no rights, no vote. They were planning to join the United States from when they started their secret meetings in 1805," she said.
The rebels had also originally claimed all Spanish territory extending east through Mississippi to the Perdido River, which separates Alabama and Florida. But their ambitious attempt to seize Mobile, Ala., failed, and Hyde said people living in those areas outside of Louisiana never actively rebelled.
On Thursday, ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of the revolt will be held at Old Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge and a flag-raising is set at the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington. On Jan. 10, 2011, the bicentennial of the annexation of West Florida will be celebrated at State Capitol Park in Baton Rouge. Neither Mississippi nor Alabama are planning West Florida commemorations.
West Florida's residents were mostly farmers and tradesmen of Scottish and English descent. Its leaders dealt harshly with opponents to either independence or U.S. annexation.
"It was pretty violent," Hyde said. "In one case a man was burned alive."
Tucker said the revolution quickly faded from the state's memory.
"Most people think this was all part of the Louisiana Purchase," Hyde said.
Hyde recalled a confrontational phone call from former Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster during the anniversary of the purchase from France in 2003. Foster scolded him for pointing out that the annexation of West Florida was separate.
"He said, the coins are minted, the posters are printed, and from now on the entire state was part of the Louisiana Purchase!" Hyde said.
But the facts say otherwise. When the United States made the purchase in 1803, it was for French Louisiana and the Isle of Orleans. Areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and east of the Mississippi River - which include West Florida - had been Spanish.
Descendants of West Florida's founders are hoping the bicentennial will give the republic its proper place in history.
In 2002, Leila Roberts, great-granddaughter of Fulworth Skipwith, leader of the republic, donated the original copy of the West Florida Constitution to the Louisiana State Archives, said state archivist Ellen Brown. It's been on display at the Capitol this year.
David Norwood is a descendant of Bennett Hilliard Barrow, one of the rebellion leaders. He proudly displays in his home a small table marked by rings from wet glasses, which family lore holds were left by rebels who gathered to plot their rebellion. Next door is the family home, Highland Plantation, built in 1805, where the rebels gathered.
The year 1810 was a bad one for Spain. Not only did West Florida rebel, but the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars sparked revolt in Spanish possessions throughout the Western Hemisphere.
"This is unknown history that is important to the rest of the nation," said David Norwood's wife, Cammie. "It started a rash of rebellions against Spain that stretched from Texas to South America."

It is a natural impulse for men to be moved with compassion for their country and forefathers. There is nothing evil, there is nothing sinful or wrong in the thoughts that fill our hearts. It is only natural to feel resentment and anger toward a tyrannical government and the willfully ignorant whipping the memory of our brave Confederate ancestors and trying to destroy our proud Southern heritage. And, it is only natural that we feel the surge of righteous ambition against those who oppose the truth. However, we may also feel a dull sense of futility, as though we are beating the air or trying to joust with windmills.

Many of us are committed to the mission of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but this very commitment may be the reason for our feeling of futility. You see, we must first commit ourselves to God. God is the Lord of all, and He is completely able to assume His own responsibilities and accomplish His aims. Where we fail, He is able to succeed. God does not need us. We need God!

This nation was founded by Christian men to be a nation "under God," and God is perfectly capable of taking care of those who would usurp His authority. And, He will. Too often we organize, promote, work, and spend God out of our business, and then ask for His blessings.

If we are to achieve victory over those who oppose us and our just Cause we must follow our God. The challenge we hear so often today is "Do more! Give more! Be more!" But God says, "Be still and know that I am God." In other words, quit the panic; quit beating the air; quit jousting with windmills, and just let God be God. In Psalms 144:1, the Scripture says, "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."

Are we ready, as a Confederation, to come to the point where we realize that all we can produce, at our best, is ashes? Are we ready to come to the place where we can accept ourselves for what we are: Helpless without Him? Are we ready to commit ourselves to God and follow His guidance and direction? Are we ready to stand firmly on the field of battle knowing that our God is leading us to victory?

Are we ready to put God at the head of our lives, our homes, our businesses, and at the head of the Sons of Confederate Veterans? If so, then we are ready.

What we do and how we act is often determined by what we believe. If a man is told that great wealth lies hidden beneath his front porch and he believes it, he will tear up his porch looking for it. However, if he is unwilling to damage his porch to reach the treasure under it, it's because he really doesn't believe the treasure is there. What we truly believe, and disbelieve, will usually determine our decisions and courses of action. Consider the following account in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John.

By the time the messengers from Mary and Martha reached Jesus on the east side of the Jordan River, and Jesus made His way to their home in Bethany, Lazarus was dead. His decaying body had been anointed, wrapped, and sealed in a tomb behind a heavy stone for four days. To Mary, Martha and the many mourners there to offer comfort, Jesus had arrived too late.

As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she ran from the house to meet Him. "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died," she cried as they met. Jesus responded by telling her, "Your brother will rise again." With eyes red and swollen from days of mourning and tears on her checks, she looked up at Jesus and sobbed, "I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then gazing down into Martha's tear stained face, Jesus spoke the most astounding words ever uttered in all human history. "Martha, I am the resurrection."

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." A Buddhist priest once scoffed at these words of Jesus by saying, "Anyone could say that." The Christian missionary whom he was addressing replied, "Yes, anyone could say it, but could they get anyone to believe it." Jesus went to the tomb, ordered the stone removed, and shouted, "Lazarus, come forth!" Then, the Scripture tells us, "He that was dead came forth." Jesus said it, then He proved it, and everyone there believed it.

Very soon, Jesus would also be placed in a tomb. He would be arrested, falsely accused, spit on, humiliated, severely beaten, and nailed to a rough wooden cross to die as God's sacrificial lamb. He suffered an agonizing death to atone for the sins of man, and offer eternal salvation to someone as unworthy as me....and you. Then the greatest of all events occurred. Early the following Sunday morning, a day we call Easter, He arose from the dead leaving the tomb empty. Thank you Lord for the empty tomb. He's alive!

Speaking to Martha, Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Then He asked a question. A question that comes storming through the centuries. A question that must be answered by every man and woman who has ever lived or will live. A question that must be answered by you and me. "Believest thou this?" John 11:26

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Recently, I was fortunate that Todd Owens granted me an interview. Todd is Councilman for the Army of Trans Mississippi for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Every Halloween weekend, you can find him and others at the Battle of Mansfield State Park, http://www.mansfieldbattlefield.org/state.asp, where they will “reenact” field hospital procedures in the true spirit of Halloween and a haunted battlefield. In this interview, Todd shares a bit of information he has learned regarding Civil War medicine.

1. What misconceptions do people have about Civil War medicine and physicians? The main misconception is that the doctors were butchers, operating without any type of medicine to help relieve the pain.

2. What was the job of a nurse in the Civil War? The main job of a nurse was the same as it is today, the care and comfort of the wounded soldiers.

3.Tell me about your persona and the work of a Civil War Doctor. I do the persona of the War Between the States undertaker/dentist. The late 1850 was when the use of embalming came into it’s heyday. The first well known case of the use of an embalmer was when the son of Union President Abraham Lincoln died in the White House. President Lincoln would go to the tomb of his son, the workers would remove the lid of the vault and it is said that the President would sit there for hours just staring at the face of his dead son.

4. How did the Confederate medical system differ from that of the Yankees? There was not that much difference in the medical system between the North and the South. The only main difference was that the South had a Dentist Corps. The North did not see the advantage to having dentist in the ranks.

5. What are some comments regarding your presentation you’ve heard from people thatare interesting? The most often made comment is that they did not realize that there were undertakers during the war. I have even, while doing living history events, made several of the students on the school days sick to their stomachs when doing my demonstrations. That is when you know that you are doing something so good that the people think it is real.

There are those who seem to always follow the path of, "Out with the old and in with the new." An evangelist preaching in a church I was pastoring some years ago, stated, "If it's new, it can't be true." That statement may not apply to everything, and of course there are times when updating is important, but it does apply. Out with the old, and in with the new is not always a good idea, and in many circumstances, leads to destruction.

The Scripture says, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." (Prov: 22: 28) Obviously, the landmarks referred to in these writings (and gatherings) of Solomon about three thousand years ago, are not the same today. For example: The Bible, and especially the New Testament, written by our Christian Fathers under the inspiration of God, does not need to be changed, amended, updated, and certainly not removed. But it has been. The Bible has been removed from our schools, courts and public assemblies, and the result has lead to chaos, destruction, and even death. Prayer has also been removed along with the Cross, Nativity scenes and anything else that represents the "Faith of our fathers." What can we, as a people, expect when we remove these ancient landmarks which our fathers have set.

Not only has the faith of our fathers been removed, but so has their morality and sense of decency. We can say America is a "Nation under God, and sing "God bless America." However, God is not going to be moved or impressed by our slogans, pledges, and songs. How can America expect God's blessing when it is more socially acceptable to be a practicing homosexual or lesbian than it is to be a practicing Christian. Did God bless Sodom? The ancient landmark of morality and decency set by our fathers has been removed. Far removed. I doubt our fathers would have thought such a condition existing in this country even possible.

As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we also have ancient landmarks set by our fathers that must not be removed. Our Confederate forefathers set and example of courage and determination in the face of a destructive and unwarranted invasion, which we are to preserve, uphold and emulate. It is their name, their flag, their monuments, and their honor which is under attack today. This is the legacy, this is the responsibility, this is the honor they passed on to us, and it's up to us to insure that these ancient landmarks are preserved and never removed.

Nineveh repented under the preaching of Jonah, and God spared the city. Can the same thing happen in America? Can America be blessed? That, I can't say. However, the Sons of Confederate Veterans can be. But we must do as General S.D. Lee said, and that is to emulate the virtues of the Confederate soldier. That means we must be a Godly Confederation. We must be a "Army under God."

May God grant to the Sons of Confederate Veterans the strength, unity of purpose, spiritual guidance, and faith, to protect and preserve the ancient landmarks set by our fathers. Amen.